Perspectives from Women at SPACE

With each passing year, March 8th has become a necessary pause, a moment to carve out visibility for women within architecture and the wider built environment. It draws overdue attention to the experiences of women within our industry, prompting conversations and action beyond the date itself.

Around International Women’s Day, social posts appear across LinkedIn, podcasts are recorded, events take place across the world and, of course, articles such as the one you are reading are published. Rather than letting the day pass quickly from one campaign to the next, there is value in sitting with what has been said, considering it more closely and approaching it with a listening ear.

This year’s theme, Give to Gain, centres on justice and meaningful change. It reflects the idea that progress depends on the deliberate giving of opportunity and recognition so the field can grow stronger in return. Architecture shapes the places where people live, learn and work, while also reflecting the structures and values of the society that produces it. If the environments architects design aspire to fairness and inclusion, the discipline itself must continue moving in that direction.

To mark the day, conversations were held with women across the studio at different stages of their careers. Their reflections form a collective snapshot of where architecture stands today. The picture that emerges is neither bleak nor complacent. Progress is visible, yet the pace remains uneven.

One of the clearest observations from these conversations was the quiet strength of peer networks. Several women reflected on the limited presence of female mentors during their education and early careers. With fewer women historically occupying senior positions across practice and academia, many architects progressed through the profession without often seeing women like themselves in leadership roles.

Alongside that reality, informal networks between women have become an important source of support. Conversations between colleagues, shared advice across project teams and honest discussions about the realities of being a woman in the design and construction industry have created spaces where experience can be exchanged openly. These connections do not always appear in formal mentoring structures, yet they carry real influence. They help younger architects build confidence, navigate challenges and begin to picture a path forward within the profession.

"I’ve found real strength in female peers. When women come together in practice, there’s an unspoken understanding and a willingness to share advice and lift each other up.”

Donna Khan
Architect at SPACE Architects

Across the industry, representation is improving. In architectural education, the gender balance has fortunately changed over the last few decades. Women now make up close to half of architecture students in the UK. However, the profession itself tells a different story. According to data from the Architects Registration Board, women currently account for around 31% of registered architects. The discrepancy between these figures points to a challenge at the centre of the conversation: retention.

As reported by Dezeen in its analysis of gender pay gap reporting across UK architecture practices, the profession has seen little progress in narrowing pay disparities over the last six years. Ten major practices that have published data consistently since 2018 recorded an average gender pay gap of 15.4% both then and today. Across the wider UK economy, the gap sits closer to 9%. The contrast highlights how structural issues continue to affect the architectural profession in particular.

Many of the barriers discussed in our internal conversations mirror the findings of wider industry research. Architecture remains a demanding profession, with long project cycles and deadlines that often extend beyond traditional working hours. For many architects, this intensity is simply accepted as part of the job. Yet for those balancing caring responsibilities, the pressures can quickly become unsustainable.

The reality of childcare remains a central factor. Although progress has been made in recent years, caring responsibilities still fall disproportionately on women. The impact is often described as the “motherhood penalty”, where career progression slows or pauses following the arrival of children. Flexible working arrangements can help, but only when they are genuinely ingrained within workplace culture rather than treated as exceptions.

Several women reflected on how part-time working has shaped their own careers. In some cases, flexibility allowed them to remain in the profession. In others, it limited opportunities or slowed advancement. The tension reflects a wider structural issue. Architecture has often been organised around the expectation of full-time presence and extended availability. Adjusting that culture requires more than policy changes. It demands a change in how dedication and professional value are understood.

Encouragingly, there are signs that the conversation is beginning to broaden. Changes in parental leave and a gradual move toward shared childcare responsibilities are altering expectations in both directions. Increasing numbers of men are taking extended paternity leave or adjusting working patterns to support family life. These changes may appear small on the surface, yet they play an essential role in redistributing the assumptions that have shaped career progression for decades.

Within practice environments, there are also visible improvements in everyday working conditions. Access to appropriate facilities on construction sites, properly fitted protective equipment and more balanced representation in project meetings all signal a profession slowly catching up with its workforce. These adjustments may seem practical rather than political, but they contribute to a culture where women can operate with the same sense of belonging as their colleagues.

The importance of representation should not be underestimated. Visibility of women in leadership roles changes how the profession is perceived by the next generation. When students and younger architects see women leading projects, directing practices or mapping research agendas, the horizon of possibility expands.

At the same time, the goal is not simply representation for its own sake. Architecture benefits directly from the breadth of perspective that diverse teams bring to the design process. Buildings are experienced by entire communities. When the profession reflects a wider range of lived experiences, the places it creates become more responsive and more humane.

“These conversations reminded us that, for women, a career in architecture is multifaceted. It is made up of individual journeys, some challenging, some encouraging, and often both at once. International Women’s Day creates space for those perspectives to be heard more widely, but its true value lies in acting on what we come to understand so that the next generation encounters fewer barriers than the last.”

Sara Townley
Brand Manager at SPACE Architects

These reflections raise an important question for the profession. How do we ensure that women who enter architecture continue to see a future for themselves within it, including at leadership level?

International Women’s Day cannot resolve these issues on its own, but it can help bring them into focus. It encourages reflection and reminds us that progress isn’t automatic; it requires intention.

Architecture has always evolved through collaboration. When women are able to contribute fully and progress into leadership, the profession itself benefits. Diverse leadership brings wider perspectives and a richer understanding of the realities buildings are asked to hold.

In the spirit of this year’s theme, Give to Gain, the exchange becomes clear. When the profession recognises the work of women and creates opportunity at every stage of their careers, practices become more resilient and more in tune with the society they serve.

At SPACE Architects, the women within our studio are fundamental to the culture and thinking that underpin the practice. The conversations shared here will not end with this article. They will continue to guide how we work and help ensure our studio remains a place where women can build lasting, fulfilling careers.